Election Violence Resurfaces in Mashonaland Central

WASHINGTON DC —
The Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says it has written to the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) complaining about the harassment and intimidation of its members in Mashonaland Central province by suspected Zanu PF supporters and war veterans.

MDC-T provincial chairman and JOMIC co-chairperson Godfrey Chimombe said cases of politically-motivated violence are on the rise in the province ahead of the July 31 polls.

Chimombe said Zanu PF supporters Tuesday disrupted his party’s peace soccer match in Mvuri, adding one of their members was rushed to Saint Alberts Mission Hospital in Mount Darwin following an attack by suspected Zanu PF supporters.

He said the home of MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Muzarabani, Faith Musarurwa, was attacked by scores of suspected Zanu PF activists Sunday.

Chimombe said Zanu PF is also being accused of reviving torture bases in the province that were used in the violent run-up to the 2008 elections.

The Zanu PF provincial liaison officer and JOMIC co-chairman for Mashonaland Central province, Everson Tauro, was not available for comment.